Bringing the community together

Times Contributor     

 

Hope Bridges is an organization that works together with the community in hope of creating a warm, welcoming, and supportive atmosphere for all adults through the language of the arts. Their goal is to bridge the gap between those established in the community and those who feel isolated, by opening its doors to all adults, helping to build a foundation for them, where everyone feels like they are involved and important to the community. 

This not-for-profit organization does this by providing creative workshops such as Up-Cycling that are held in the Leary Center and Sing Your High Note that takes place in the long term care facility at the Strathmore Hospital. 

BC native Janine Regan has only lived in Strathmore for six months. She began working as a private caregiver to Rhonda Gathercole shortly after her family moved to town.

Like Janine, Rhonda moved to Strathmore a short time ago from Calgary.

The two friends, when they first arrived to Strathmore, walked around town, trying to figure out where they could best fit in. On one of their walks, they stumbled across Hope Bridges. 

As soon as they walked through the front doors they felt at home. They have since become very involved with the program and attend workshops every week. “Being a part of Hope Bridges brings a smile to your face, it make you feel connected and accomplished,” explains Regan. 

Rhonda’s favorite part of her weekly visits to Hope Bridges is reconnecting with her new friends and making wonderful pieces of art. The support that Gathercole and Regan have found here is very important to the two and they feel very confident that they can help others that are in search of strength and relationship. Board member Katy Webster has attended many workshops too, and feels comfortable and safe at Hope Bridges. The friends and mentors she has met through Hope Bridges are invaluable. She feels like she belongs to something great and her favorite activity is helping out with the yearly fundraising gala. For more information on Hope Bridges please visit their website where you can make a donation, volunteer, sign up for a workshop or just pass the information on to someone.www.hopebridges.ca.